COP30 took place in Belém, Brazil, at the heart of the Amazon, setting the stage for high-stakes climate negotiations amid one of the planet's most critical ecosystems. This episode of Fixed on ESG examines the summit's defining outcomes: the formal acknowledgment that the 1.5°C target is no longer attainable without overshoot, debates over fossil fuel phase-outs, and the shifting balance of influence as emerging markets assert a stronger role amid the absence of U.S. leadership.

We also explore new climate finance pledges, adaptation funding, and the launch of the Tropical Forests Forever initiative, alongside the EU's trade measures and revised emissions targets—analyzing how these developments could shape the trajectory of global climate action.

PGIM's John Ploeg, CFA, Co-Head of Fixed Income ESG Research, hosts this discussion with Roma Wilkinson, ESG Specialist.

Recorded on December 9, 2025.

Access to medicine is a vital issue at the crossroads of global health issue, corporate responsibility, and ESG investing. Join us as we unpack barriers to equitable access, explore how pharmaceutical companies and ESG-focused investors are addressing these challenges, the emergence of patient reach is as a measure of progress, and how improvements in reporting can align access initiatives with business models to drive both sustainable growth and social impact.

Birgit Lundem Jakobsen, ESG Specialist at PGIM, hosts this discussion with Bram Wagner, Investor Engagement Lead for the Access to Medicine Foundation, and Hank Balbirer, CFA, U.S. Investment Grade Senior Credit Research Analyst at PGIM.

Recorded on November 5, 2025.

As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) presses to implement their groundbreaking Greenhouse Gas Fuel Intensity Standards across the shipping industry, we examine the scope and likely impacts of these net-zero regulations. Get our take on the credit implications to the industry—including progress on the transition to alternative fuels—as well as considerations for investors in this growing sector.

PGIM's Roma Wilkinson, ESG Specialist, hosts this discussion with Sean Goodier, CFA, European Investment Grade Credit Research Analyst.

Recorded on September 3, 2025.

EU ESG regulations significantly impact companies operating within the EU, necessitating precise actions and accountability. This episode of Fixed on ESG outlines the key institutions responsible for shaping EU ESG regulations and the various forms these regulations can take, including sustainability frameworks and reporting obligations to investment classifications. We will examine the current trajectory for regulatory changes, including the Omnibus package, against Europe's shifting political and economic contours.

PGIM's Birgit Lundem Jakobsen, ESG Specialist, hosts this discussion with Judith Franken, EMEA Government Affairs.

Recorded on August 26, 2025.

With climate-related events increasing in frequency and severity, we discuss the role of insurance in mitigating the economic and social risks. With a focus on the property and casualty insurance sector, learn about insurance's economic role, how insurers are adapting their strategies to protect against losses while offering coverage where it is needed, and the importance of risk mitigation efforts by all key players.

PGIM's David Klausner, ESG Specialist, hosts this discussion with Pinto Suri, U.S. Investment Grade Credit Research Analyst.

Recorded on July 17, 2025.

This episode of Fixed on ESG unravels the perils of fast fashion, the environmental footprint, transparency challenges, and opportunities for innovation. We highlight the role of different stakeholders across the value chain in driving change towards a more sustainable future.

Samantha Van Belle, ESG Specialist at PGIM Fixed Income, hosts this discussion with Alice Roche-Naude, Sustainability Strategy Director at Futerra, and Nuvneet Dhillon, CFA, ESG Specialist at PGIM Fixed Income.

Recorded on June 12, 2025.

Often excluded from ESG portfolios on ethical grounds, the defence sector is at the forefront due to current geopolitical tensions. In this episode of Fixed on ESG, we consider whether defence companies should be included in ESG investments, the rising strategic importance of defence, investment barriers, and the potential for ESG-conscious investors to reconsider their exclusion policies.

PGIM Fixed Income's James Malone, CFA, ESG Specialist, hosts this discussion with Katharine Neiss, PhD, Deputy Head of Global Economics and Chief European Economist.

Recorded on May 6, 2025.

Investors are looking to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as one tool to help guide impactful investments. This episode of Fixed on ESG explores the role of the SDGs as a framework for identifying opportunities, SDG-related challenges (e.g. "SDG washing"), the financing gap, methodological issues in assessing contributions, and factors to consider when balancing operational performance with business model alignment.

PGIM Fixed Income's Nuvneet Dhillon, CFA, ESG Specialist, hosts this discussion with Armelle de Vienne, Co-Head of ESG Research, and Yacine Rachid, ESG Specialist.

Recorded on March 19, 2025.